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    Sometimes, I want to discuss a topic or reply with a fellow answerer that should not be visible to other users. It would be great if it was possible to send short messages to eachother.

    To prevent spam, you can choose to allow this only when you have earned at least 1 medal (which isn't that hard). Also, there should be an option whether a user wants to receive messages or block certain users.
    Geert van Horrik - CatenaLogic
    Visit my blog: http://blog.catenalogic.com

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    Wednesday, September 16, 2009 7:20 AM

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    It is a frequent request, one I don't support.  The potential for misuse is too great, this is bound to be abused by flinging insults.  With frequent contributors and especially moderators most commonly at the receiving end.  Out-of-band comments can be useful, I like the way it is done at Stackoverflow.com.
    Hans Passant.
    Wednesday, September 16, 2009 11:46 AM
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    I couldn't find the request via the search, sorry for reposting.

    But, to prevent misuse, you should have rules to allow posting to other people. For example, you should have at least xx points before you can send messages to other people. Also, if you decide not to accept forum messages, you should be able to disable the feature (like the vBulletin board).
    Geert van Horrik - CatenaLogic
    Visit my blog: http://blog.catenalogic.com

    Looking for a way to deploy your updates to all your clients? Try Updater!
    Wednesday, September 16, 2009 12:49 PM
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    Like Hans I'm completely against this.

    If this

    > if you decide not to accept forum messages, you should be able to disable the feature (like the vBulletin board).

    is feasible at all here, it should be that you need to turn it on if you want it - i.e. disable should be default.
    WSS FAQ sites: http://wssv2faq.mindsharp.com and http://wssv3faq.mindsharp.com
    Total list of WSS 3.0 / MOSS 2007 Books (including foreign language) http://wssv3faq.mindsharp.com/Lists/v3%20WSS%20FAQ/V%20Books.aspx
    Wednesday, September 16, 2009 3:14 PM
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    Like Hans I'm completely against this.

    If this

    > if you decide not to accept forum messages, you should be able to disable the feature (like the vBulletin board).

    is feasible at all here, it should be that you need to turn it on if you want it - i.e. disable should be default.
    WSS FAQ sites: http://wssv2faq.mindsharp.com and http://wssv3faq.mindsharp.com
    Total list of WSS 3.0 / MOSS 2007 Books (including foreign language) http://wssv3faq.mindsharp.com/Lists/v3%20WSS%20FAQ/V%20Books.aspx
    Wednesday, September 16, 2009 3:14 PM
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    I also see a need for this sort of feature, but I don't see any reasonable way it could be implemented to avoid the problems mentioned above.

    On forums that allow this, it appears to be something that needs frequent moderator intervention.  Moderators would spend time following up on those problem posts instead of making sure people got answers to their questions.
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    Thursday, September 17, 2009 3:50 AM
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    Even if it is turned off by default?

    To turn on, there could be a requirement, such as 2 or 3 medals, or have people put others in an approved messaging list. Or, change the messaging concept to private threads with a controlled invitee list by message creator.
    • Edited by Brian Tkatch Thursday, September 17, 2009 2:40 PM typo
    Thursday, September 17, 2009 2:39 PM
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    If it's off by default, then the odds of someone you want to contact having the feature enabled are pretty low.  And it would *have* to be off by default because it could be abused.

    If it requires medals, then that would really limit who could use the feature.  I've got over a hundred posts here, and I'm still quite a ways away from my second medal :)  It's a good metric you could use to try to prevent spammers, but I think most of the people I'd want to contact in this way would likely be relatively new users.  So you end up with a system where pretty much the only folks that have access to it are MVP's, moderators and MS staff.

    I like the idea of an "approved users" list that was created by the thread starter.  But again, I think that the users I'd be most likely to contact with a system like this would never know about it (or how to set it up).

    So I guess I wasn't really correct when I said there was no way it could be implemented.  It's just that the way it would have to be implemented to make everyone happy would probably mean that it provided little if any value :)

    Want to know if your hardware will work on Windows 7? Check out these links: **Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor ** **Microsoft Logo'd Hardware List**
    Thursday, September 17, 2009 3:57 PM
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    Interesting points. I never thought about it from that perspective.

    Maybe the system could put requirements on the PM starter, medals, MSFT staff :), or the like. Replies could be done by anyone. People new to the forum probably have little use for PM, and when they do need it, they can ask the person they are trying to ask in the forum to start the conversation.

    Another idea, assuming this would likely be a privatization of a thread topic, just have the OP be able to mark a thread private, and add invitees. Private threads show up in the regular thread list to invitees and moderators. Allow an option to filter by private threads as well.
    Thursday, September 17, 2009 4:16 PM
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    Having the threads be private kinda defeats the point of the public forums. 

    PM's do too.  But the way I'd use PM's would be to ask for email contact info to make it easier to share screenshots/other files.  When there's a resolution to the issue, it needs to be posted back to the forum so everyone benefits.
    Want to know if your hardware will work on Windows 7? Check out these links: **Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor ** **Microsoft Logo'd Hardware List**
    Friday, September 18, 2009 3:45 AM
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    Very interesting.

    I know i don't always post things i've done because i want to keep it private, but the forums are public.

    Hmm.. like, having an attachment to threads. But attachments would only be viewable by people in a list set up by the poster.

    That should address most issues. Anyone could add an attachment.
    Only approved people could see them.
    The thread itself would be public.
    Intended receiver's of attachments would not be notified or bothered in anyway. It would just be available to them in that thread.
    Tuesday, September 22, 2009 3:23 PM